Overdrape supporting means for curtains



y 2, 1933. G. w. DOVER 1,907,151

OVERDRAPE SUPPORTING MEANS FOR CURTAINS Filed Feb. 11, 1952 177%977752" ,fidiya fijaz'aig Patented May 2, 1 933 warren srA'rss PArENr OFFINI.

GEORGE W. DOVER, CRANS'ION, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO DOVERCRAIET GOM- PANY, INC., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND O VERDRAPE SUPPORTING MEANS FOR CURTAINS Application filed February 11, 1932. Serial No. 592,283.

This invention relates toan improved ourtain overdrape and supporting means therefor, and more particularly means for supporting a ready made overdrape such as is 5 ordinarily made in standard sizes to fit Win.- dows of different widths;

Heretofore curtains and overdrapes for windows have been made to fit the particular window for which they are each designed, but devices of thischaracter are now made in a variety of standard sizes, such, for example, as, 12 inch, 15 inch, 18 inch, etc., the number corresponding to the widtl'rof the curtain or overdrape between the an 15 choring means securedthereto adjacent to the opposite side edges of the overdrape, and the present invention involves the provision of a suitable supporting means for supporting such standard sized overdrapes together 20 with. novel means for connecting the overdrape and supporting means in such amanner as to provide a support for the overdrape both at the anchoring points and intermediate thereof throughoutthe entire width of a the overdrape.

One object of the invention is the provision of a novel form and arrangement of window overdrape comprising an overdrape of standard width together with a pivoted supporting arm having fixed anchoring means for supporting the end edges of the overdrape and attaching means located intermediate of said anchoring means and adapted for connection with the supporting arm at a variety of different points longitudinally of said arm, whereby the intermediate portion of the overdrape located between the side edges thereofmaybe supported uniformly and at a plurality of variable points which may be located at 1111? equal distances from each otherthroughout the width of the overdrape.

Another object of the invention is the pro-,

vision of a curtain or overdrape support provided with spaced anchoring means located at a fixed distance from each other and adapted to receive attaching devices-arranged adjacent to the side edges of a curtain or overdrape of standard size, and hav- 59 ing .holding means located intermediateof construction and novel arrangements of the parts as will be more fully set forth in the detailed description to follow:

Referring to the drawing I Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a window frame showing one of the improved curta'in supporting devices applied thereto and showing an overdrape of standard width carried by the supporting member and arranged in appropriate position relative to the window frame,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view througha portion of the supporting member and overdrape, taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1, and showing one form of attaching means for connecting theoverdrape to the supporting member aswell as its manner of attachment to one of the gathered portions of the overdrape,

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of one form of curtain supporting member or arm,-

and

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of a modified form of curtain supporting arm.

In the form of the invention illustrated herewith, 1 designates a window provided with a frame 2 comprising sideand top portions 3 and 4. A bracket member 5 is secured to the side portion 3 of the window frame adj acent to the upper extremity of the sideportion 3 in any suitable manner, as by means of screws'fi, the bracket being provided with a hinge pin 7 adapted to fit within a bearing 8 carried by the supporting member or'arm 9 whereby the supporting member is pivotally connected with the bracket 5 for movement in a horizontal plane into a position in front 'of the window'as shown in Fig. 1, orback away from the window and against the wall of the room as may be desired.

The=supporting member 9 is provided with elongated slots asthe case'may be, for'supoverdrape 16 intermediate the end anchoring hooks 15. All of the hooks 15 may be of similar construction and similarly attached to the overdrapewIn the form illustratedherewith the hooks 15 'are each provided with a sharpened end 18 for insertion in the fabric of the overdrape, and a'hook' shaped end '14 for insertion within one of the end anchoring openings 10 and 11 or one of the intermediate porting the hook from that portion of the arm located immediately below one of the openings. The supporting means or portions of the arm which underlie the openings 10 and 11in the normal'position of the arm are of relatively limited'lateral extent, while the corresponding supporting portion of the arm underlying the slots 20 are of materially greater lateraleXt-entthan said first named supporting portions, whereby the two end hooks 15 are maintained in a definitely spaced relation to each other and the intermediate hooks are capable 'of engaging the intermediate supporting means in any one of a variety of positions longitudinally of the arm; I

In making overdrapes of thischaracter in accordance with the present practice the overdrapes are made in a plurality of standard sizes to fit windowsof average widths no-win common use; The overdrape'16 is then'provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending gatheredportions 21, each of which may beformed by stitching together folds of the material or by se'curingthe folds together in any other suitable o'r'desired manner. The two end anchoringho'oksf15 are then secured to the 'overdrape at points adjacent to the opposite-side edges thereof and at substantial equal distances from the end edge 22 of the overdrape," these anchoring hooks being located'the same distance from each other in all ready made overdrapes of the same size. A pluralityof intermediate hooks 15 similar tothe end anchoring hooks 15 are secured "to the "overdrape 20 between the end anchoring hooks 15, theseintermed'iate "attaching" hooks 'being 'ea ch located an equal:'distancefrom the end eclge 22 of the manner 'shownin FigIQ/ of th'e'drawing or they maybe more or less permanent-lyattached thereto as by being sewed or otherwise overdrape, and being preferably each located at or secured in' on'e of the gathered portionsporting arm could not be utilized to receive these hooks since the exact location of the hooks could not be readily predetermined as the relative positions of the intermediate hooks relative to each other vary with each overdrape.

In order to provide'a means for attaching these intermediate hooks to the supporting member or arm in such a manner that they may be connected thereto readily regardless of the spacing of the hooks relative to eachother laterally of, the overdrape and without placing undue'strainupon or distorting the fabric, I have provided the elongated slots 20 separated from each other by relatively narrow portions of the supporting member whereby each intermediate hook 15 may be inserted in one of the slotsQO-and supported by one of the narrowstrips 23-whichremainw- .afterforming the slot 20, regardless ofthe exact position which the intermediatehooks 15 may occupy'relativeto each'other laterall ly of the overdrape.

In that'forin-of-the supporting arm or member 24 illustrated'in Fig; 4 of the drawing,-

there is provided a bearing 8 andanchoring openmgs 10 and 11, as 1n the form shown 111' Fig. 3, but instead of providing spaced slots 20, Icut; away the material of the arm adj a- I cent tothe lower edge thereof'to produce a continuous slot 25 extending throughout the major portion ofthe supporting arm intermediate the anchoring openings 10'and 11,thereby leaving a continuous supporting strip 26' extending -substantially "throughout the length .of the supporting "arm intermediate 1 the openings 10 and 11 which is adapted to drape.

It will be seen-that in the case of each form ings 10 and 11 to support the side edges of the be engaged by'and to support the intermed1ate'hooks15 regardless ofth'eir positions relative to each other laterally of the over 'of supporting arm as shown, when the end \I anchoring hooks 15 are inserted in the open over-drape, the intermediate hooks may be in- 1 serted in the opening or'openings above the narrow supporting strip or strips in such a manner as to support the overdrape unlformly and permit engagement of each hook with the supporting element regardless of the loca-' tion of the'hook laterally of the overdrape.

It is to be understood that'the hooks 15 may be attachedto the over-dra pe'after the I secured to the overdrape, and in anycase the 'overdrape may be'made up and the interme- 'diate attaching hooks secured thereto withthe supporting arm; In general'it is found desirable toplace eachintermediate hook at or adjacent .to one of thegathered:portionsalii of the overdrape and by means of my improved supporting arm these gathered portions may be formed and arranged as may be found desirable to best display the overdrape without regard to any particular spacing of the hooks from each other or uniformity in such positioning of the hooks, since they may be inserted over the hook supporting portion of the supporting arm in all positions.

While I have shown and described the structure with particular reference to what are ordinarily termed overdrapes, it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to any curtains or draperies such as may be employed in connection with windows, doors or the like, and it is to be understood that the term overdrape as employed in the specification and claims is used in its broader sense as comprehending any curtains or draperies of this character which may be employed in the manner indicated.

lVhat I claim is 1. An overdrape supporting means comprising a pivotally mounted arm, supporting means of limited lateral extent spaced a fixed distance from each other and located adjacent to opposite ends of said supporting arm, and elongated supporting means of considerably greater lateral extent than said first named supporting means carried by said supporting arm and located intermediate of and substantially coincident with a line joining said spaced supporting means.

2. An overdrape supporting means comprising a pivotally mounted arm movable in a substantially horizontal plane, spaced holding means of limited lateral extent located adjacent to opposite ends of said supporting arm and separated a predetermined distance from each other, and intermediate supporting means located between said spaced holding means and extending effectively throughout substantially the entire distance between said spaced holding means, said holding and supporting means being located below the horizontal median line of said arm.

3. An overdrape holding means comprising a supporting arm mounted for pivotal movementin a substantially horizontal plane, spaced holding means carried by said supporting arm and arranged at a fixed distance relative to each other for supporting the opposite side edges of an overdrape and maintaining the overdrape in extended position, and intermediate supporting means located between said spaced holding means and effective for attachment to that portion of an overdrape located intermediate the side edges thereof at any one of a plurality of points, said holding and supporting means being located below the horizontal median line of said arm.

4. An overdrape supporting means for windows comprising an arm mounted for pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane and provided with spaced supportingportions of limited lateral extent to form drapery supporting portions arranged in substantial alignment with each other longitudinally of the arm, the end supporting portions being of materially less lateral extent than the intermediate supporting portions.

6. An elongated drapery supporting arm pivotally mounted for movement in a hori zontal plane and having portions located between the horizontal side edges thereof shaped to provide a plurality of supports for receiving and supporting drapery engaging members, the supports located adjacent to the opposite ends of said arm being shaped to retain the corresponding drapery engaging members in substantially fixed position relative to each other and the intermediate supports being shaped to receive and support drapery engaging members in any one of a plurality of adjusted positions longitudinally of the arm.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

GEORGE W. DOVER. 

